“Especially at the start, make sure the fun meter’s on high, get lots of sun and get refreshed and recharged." -- Mike Babcock

TAMPA, Fla. – The dozen or so Detroit Red Wings who aren’t going to Sochi, Russia, for the Olympics and won’t be spending time in Grand Rapids during the break will have at least 17 days between games.

So coach Mike Babcock offered this advice: “Be in shape when you come back.”

But this rare mid-season respite won’t be all work and no play. Far from it.

“Especially at the start, make sure the fun meter’s on high, get lots of sun and get refreshed and recharged and make sure you get to the gym enough that when we get started you’re ready to go,” Babcock said.

Most of the Red Wings’ non-Olympians planned on escaping the Michigan cold for tropical climates from Hawaii to Mexico to the Caribbean.

“I think the guys that go to the Olympics are going to be really energized because of the opportunity,” Babcock said. “And for the guys that get to go to Turks and Caicos or wherever the heck they’re going, that sounds like a good opportunity to me as well.”

Drew Miller and his wife will spend time in the Caribbean.

“Just trying to use the break to get rejuvenated, hang out and kind of clear the mind a little bit before getting back at it,” Miller said. “Anytime you get an opportunity to do something like this you should try to make the most of it. I think we have enough time coming back for practice to get back into it before we play again.”

Justin Abdelkader will return home to Muskegon for a few days before heading to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

“I think it’s more just about getting rest,” Abdelkader said. “We’ve had so many games in a short amount of time; you have some bumps and bruises. It’s good to have some time off to let those heal.”

Brendan Smith planned on heading to Jamaica with his girlfriend and brothers, including Reilly, who plays for the Boston Bruins.

“I’ve never been south of the States, so it’ll be fun,” Smith said. “The weather was looking good for a long time but then they said there’s some tropical storm coming through, which would suck.”

Unlike most of his teammates, Brian Lashoff won’t need sunscreen during the break. He’ll be spending the week in his hometown of Albany, N.Y., with his girlfriend and brother, Matt, who’s on break from his Swedish league club.

“I think it’s the only place with more snow than Detroit,” Lashoff.

“It’s been a lot of games in a short time, kind of like last year. We take a few days off to rest the body and then slowly start getting back into it. By the time you get back to Detroit for that second week you’re skating every day. There’s plenty of time to get back into it.”

Red Wings recall Mikael Samuelsson

The Red Wings recalled forward Mikael Samuelsson from the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday because their AHL affiliate is over the veteran limit.

He will practice with the Red Wings starting on Feb. 19.

Samuelsson, who was waived last week, has no points and a minus-4 rating in two games with the Griffins.